Philippine official's visit to Pag-asa alarms China
China has lodged representations with the Philippines following a visit by the latter's defense and military officials in Pag-asa Island, according to the spokesman of the Chinese foreign ministry.
"Gravely concerned about and dissatisfied with this, China has lodged representations with the Philippine side," Lu Kang said in a press statement posted on China's Foreign Ministry Affairs website.
Last Friday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces Chief General Eduardo Año, along with other military officials, visited Pag-asa Island, a Philippine-occupied territory that is part of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.
Lu said the move of the Philippines defense and military officials has negated the important consensus reached between China President Xi Jinping and President Rodrigo Duterte.
"This move runs counter to the important consensus reached between the two leadership, which is to properly deal with the South China Sea issue," Lu said.
Lu said China is hoping that the Philippine government would continue to cherish a fivedecade China-Philippines bilateral relations which were rejuvenated under the leadership of Duterte.
"We hope that the Philippine side could faithfully follow the consensus reached between the two leadership, maintain general peace and stability in the South China Sea, and promote the sound and steady development of China-Philippine relations," he said.